Motorcycle Repair: Bending 7/8, kawasaki kz 750, gas torch

Question
Bill,

  I recently got an 83 Kawasaki KZ 750 with bent handle bars. So, I ordered a new set. The new bars have too mutch pull-back though. I would like to heat them up and bend them more forward. However paying a shop to do this much exceeds the cost of the bars.
  Can I do this myself. I have a Nap tourch in the garage and a vice to hold the bars so, can I heat the rise portion of the bars enough on both sides to bend them to where I want. I realize the chrome will be lost but I don't want any other damage than that, ie weakening the bars? Thnaks.

R/ Bill

Answer
Bill, I guess that as long as you don't kink the bars when you are heat bending them, they will probably be okay. A simple bend may not hurt them, if not excessive, but if you are turning them in two planes, you may be getting into an area of fatigue or metal stress, that could get dangerous if you were in a panic situation or in a crash.
Not sure how far you want to go.. maybe just order some different ones from Ebay or elsewhere more to your liking.
Put the new ones on Ebay instead of ruining them.

I used to keep an old fork tube in the garage for bending and unbending stuff. Most will fit over the OD of the bars and the length gives you plenty of leverage to push them around a little w/o ruining the chrome.

MAPP gas torch will probably be hot enough. Get the spot cherry red and bend it carefully, but quickly. Throw some chrome paint on it, once it cools down to reduce rust and corrosion.

I take it that you can't rotate the bars far enough forward in the handlebar clamps to suit your needs.

Bill Silver